life

When life gives you lemons, make Margaritas!!!

Life's Journey

I apologize for not updating my blog for so long. I have had the most amazing 1 1/2 since my surgery. I have done things that I would have never been able to do, some examples: Ride a Ferris Wheel, Parasail in Maui, the list can go on.....

I continue to amaze myself with the things that held me back. I for the first time in a REALLY long time feel good about myself and the way I look. I no longer walk around trying to hide myself.

I have lost a little more weight, my total lost to date is 176lbs. I have been able to maintain that and have NOT gained anything back. I continue to eat high protein, low carb, lots of fruit and drink milk constantly (go figure, I hated milk before).

My new favorite quote is the following "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels".

This picture was from a Graduation party at the Cleveland Clinic. My crazy friend Zoni made me be the "test picture" for the photographer and she thinks "it's the best picture ever"!!

Update

Good evening to all. I hope that everyone in Cleveland is staying warm on this chilly weekend!! Nothing major going on with me. I am happy to report that I went to the Nutritionist today and she told me that I have lost 71% of my excess body weight! She also talked to me about a goal weight, which is something that I have never set for myself. We worked together and set a goal weight.

I will let you know when I hit it.

Stay warm.....Love to all.

Dawn

Happy New Year. I can't believe it is 2009 already! Amazing how quickly time is passing. I continue to lose weight at a more reduced rate, I have introduced new foods into my diet and have been tolorating them well. I have my one year appointment next week with my doctor, I had blood work drawn last week, hopefully the labs are ok.

Everyone has been asking me how Isabella is doing since her finger injury in November, I am happy to report she is healing well. Her quote to the doctor the other day was "I can finally be normal again". Thanks for all the prayers.

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right ~Oprah Winfrey

ONE YEAR TODAY

Today is my 1 year anniversary!!! I can't believe how much my life has changed in 365 days! AMAZING JOURNEY. Many people ask me if I have any regrets and I always say NO, and I mean it.

Thanks to EVERYONE who has encouraged me along the way, I could have never lost 166lbs without you.

These are the pants I wore on Christmas Day...2 days before my surgery. They are a size 32. I am now wearing a size 16.

In the picture below, I am in ONE LEG of the pants!

Here is me and Aunt Fran in the one pant leg each!

The holidays

Well I would be lying if I didn't tell you that I am nervous about the holidays. All the eating, drinking and being Merry scares me. I know that I am much more disciplined then I think I am but only time will tell. I survived thanksgiving and did very well eating. I drank alot of water during the day so I was full on liquids not food. My dinner consisted of turkey, soup and a little mashed potatoes.

I have come so far in 11 months that I can't help myself but smile. I know this sounds crazy but I am really proud of myself.

Traveling 150lbs less.....

We are back from Chicago and the Oprah Winfrey Show! What an amazing time. We arrived in Chicago on Wednesday AM and shopped all day long (purchased for myself a Beautiful Tiffany Ring) and had a delicious dinner at Roy's in Chicago. Thursday was the Oprah show, when we arrived at Harpo studios we learned the Drs. Oz and Roizen were going to be on. After going through extensive security we finally made it on set with fantastic seats in the center third row! The show was great, the topic was leading a healthy lifestyle. After the show Dr. Roizen took us back in the "Green Room" where we waited to meet Lady O....We were greated and Dr. Roizen mentioned my weight loss to her and she congratulated me. We then took a couple photos with her. The experience was awesome. Dr. Roizen told me that he will get the photos and forward them to me. I await patiently.

Thursday night was a whole other story.....We were dressed and ready to go to yet another dinner when we learned that Isabella had cut the top of her finger and might loss the tip on her middle finger. We immediately went into panic mode and tried to get back to Cleveland the quickest way. We ended up driving back to Cleveland the long 6 hours and arriving back about 4:30am. Stacey immediately went to Isabella. The hand surgeon was able to re-attach the finger tip and hopefully it will be OK. We will not now for 2 weeks. Please say a prayer for Isabella.

What I know for sure....traveling 150lbs lighter is MUCH easier. I was able to board the plane with ease, buckle my seat belt and sit comfortably in my seat!!!

10 months

I have celebrated my 10 month anniversary. I can't believe it has been this long. It seems like yesterday I was considering the surgery. October 1st was my first workshop appointment to get the process started and now I am celebrating 10 months. Someone asked me yesterday how I was going to celebrate a year? I don't know, if you have any suggestions please email me.

What is new with me....I have started to introduce alcohal into my diet, My dietcian suggests Vodka because it is low in calories and sugar. So I did and so far so good, 2 cocktails and I am feeling it. Very weird. I am going to Chicago next weekend with Robin and Stacey to see Oprah which is very exciting. Don't know who will be on the show, hopefully something good.

I have started to tapper off loosing weight which I know would happen. I am very confortable at my weight, I am officially 1/2 of what I was. I hope all is well with everyone.

154LBS

Went to the dietcian yesterday and I have lost 154lbs. My newest issue is dark circles under my eyes. Appartently I have lost so much weight in my face that the blood vessels are broken under my eyes and causing dark circles. I swear I never realized all the things that being overweight caused. I have been shopping like crazy lately, with the weather change I need fall clothes. My pants I am buying are 14/16 which is crazy.

I hope all is well - Lot's of Love. Dawn

New Lease on Life

Here are the latest stats of the new me.........

I am wearing size 16 jeans from 32.

Size 8 shoe from size 10

Size 8 ring from size 12

Size large shirt from 6X

and feeling fantastic!

The New Me

I am going to a wedding tonight and I am wearing a size 16 dress, high heels and nylons!! I haven't worn these 3 things together in years!!!

I had a appointment with my dietitian today. She told me a fantastic stat..........I have lost 58% of my excess body weight! I have lost 147lbs. so far which she was thrilled with. I have to change a couple of my habits that she says are ok but I should change, for example, eat NOTHING after 8pm instead of liquids and only snacks that are 100 calorie or less, which is easier thanks to the handy 100 calorie snack packs.

One of my doctors gave me a card the other day....it read....Start doing what's necessary, then do what's possible, and suddenly you'll be doing the impossible!

140lbs

As I approach my 8month anniversary I look back at how far I have come. I am currently wearing size XL top and size 16 pants. When I started this journey I was wearing size 5X tops and size 32 pants. One of my co-workers and very good friend asked if I have tried on my size 32 pants lately, I said no and went home and tried them on. OH MY GOD!!! I was very sad. I will forever hold on to those pants for motivation! I continue to lose weight and have begun to slow down a bit.

August is a special time in our family. We celebrate the Feast of the Assumption like we celebrate Christmas day. Family was in town from Phoenix and we went to Niagara Falls for the weekend, it was very nice, lots of fun but VERY crowded.

Any experience can be transformed into something of value. Everything depends on the way you look at things. You cannot have the success without the failures.

I hope all is well with each and every one of you! Love - ME

7 MONTHS

I am officially able to shop all stores. It has been so long since I have been able to do this, it's very exciting. Everything else is going well, I am continuing to lose weight and fear that I will stop very soon. If I never lost another pound, I would be very happy with my total weight loss of 128lbs.

Another WOW moment...I went to see Mamma Mia with my dad last sunday and sat so confortably in the seat.

Read This EVERYDAY

1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you Is because they want to be just like you.
4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, Even if they don't like you.
5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
6. You mean the world to someone.
7. You are special and unique.
8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.
10. When you think the world has turned its back on you take another look.
11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.

Size XL Dress!!!!

I had a group doctors appointment today and we had to bring pictures of our accomplishments and this is what I brought.